Parking meter proceeds in Santa Cruz go to local non-profit

(KION-TV, 2019) All of the money generated from Downtown Santa Cruz parking meters from Dec. 18 to Christmas has gone to Hope Services, a non-profit that supports adults with developmental disabilities.

“Last year just over $30,000 that people put into the meters, and that was directly channeled to this crew to keep them working,” Hope Services program manager Sheryl Hagemann said.

Over the last six years almost $150,000 has gone from the meters straight to the hope services downtown litter abatement team. A group of people you’ve likely seen in working vests cleaning up the streets of downtown Santa Cruz.

“It came about when the funding for the crew itself was cut, and it was really [in] jeopardy of the people not being able to work or at least in a full-time capacity," Hagemann said. “That would have had a huge impact to these individuals in a number of regards. The social aspect to it as well as their employment and earning capacity.”

The city wanted to pay the team back for their efforts downtown, so they came up with the idea of parking for hope. Many people heading downtown for a visit are more than happy to get behind.

“It's an exceptional idea. I would even possibly but a little more money then the time I was going to stay if I knew,” Felton resident Tom Betler said.

Whether you pay by card or coin, all of the money is going to Hope Services. Parking is free on Christmas Day so Tuesday is the last day of the fundraiser.